The state Board of Education’s recent revisions to its A-F school grading policy (Policy 2320), which WVEA opposes, will go into effect this fall and schools will receive their first grades.
Schools will receive an A, B, C, D or F grade based on a scoring system approved by the state board. Too much of that scoring system depends on a student’s performance on the statewide summative assessment, which is currently the Smarter Balanced.
WVEA does not believe this accurately measures a school’s quality or performance. WVEA continues to oppose the A-F school grading system and the negative impact it could have on our schools and communities, and we have been publicly vocal in our opposition.
On Oct. 12 the state Board of Education set the cut scores for how to grade schools A, B, C, D or F. In this first year, schools will be graded on a bell curve, meaning the majority of public schools in West Virginia should expect a “C” grade.
With some slight variation, approximately 4% of schools will receive an F, 19% will receive a D, 54% will receive a C, 19% a B and 4% will receive an A. Smarter Balanced test results from the spring of 2015 and the spring of 2016 make up most of a school’s A-F score.
The statewide A-F school grades will be released to the public on Nov. 9.
Schools received their embargoed grades Oct. 14. They will have two weeks after that date to appeal, during which time districts will review the results, seek clarity on how they were determined and ensure their accuracy. Minor adjustments in school grades are possible and depend upon a school district’s corrections to the data.
High schools will be graded somewhat differently than middle schools and elementary schools. High schools can receive a total of 1,500 points. Elementary and middle schools can receive up to 1,200 points.
Here is how High Schools will be scored:
| Math proficiency rate: Up to 250 points
| English proficiency rate: 250 points
| Observed Growth (actual growth of each student): 100 points in math
| Observed Growth: 100 points in English/LA
| Adequate Growth (determines whether observed growth is enough for students to reach grade-level expectations, or there is growth to standard): 100 points in English/LA
| Adequate Growth: 100 points in math
| Accelerated Improvement of Lowest 25% of students in math: 100 points
| Accelerated Improvement of Lowest 25% of students in English/LA: 100 points
| Reducing the number of students in the at-risk subgroup: 50 points
| Attendance: 50 points
| Combined College and Career Ready Indicators. Measures students achieving college ready benchmarks or earning college credit; measures the percentage of high school students who complete Career and Technical education concentrations: 150 points
| Graduation Rates: 150 points
Here is how Elementary and Middle Schools will be scored:
| Math proficiency rate: 175 points
| English proficiency rate: 175 points
| Observed Growth (actual growth of each student): 100 points in math
| Observed Growth: 100 points in English/LA
| Adequate Growth (determines whether observed growth is enough for students to reach grade-level expectations, or there is growth to standard): 100 points in English
| Adequate Growth: 100 points in math
| Accelerated Improvement of Lowest 25% in math: 100 points
| Accelerated Improvement of Lowest 25% in English/LA: 100 points
| Reducing the number of students in the at-risk subgroup: 100 points
| Attendance: 100 points
| (ELEMENTARY ONLY): Below-standard third-grade reading rate (increasing the percentage of students scoring at or above standard in third-grade reading): 50 points
| (MIDDLE ONLY): Below standard eighth-grade mathematics rate (increasing the percentage of students scoring at or above standard in eighth-grade math): 50 points

WVEA believes that A-F will unfairly perpetuate the idea that many of our public schools are failing even though that is not the case.
There is the possibility of sending confusing, mixed messages to our students and communities. For instance, a West Virginia school that worked hard to close achievement gaps and had been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School could later be deemed a D or an F school if students struggle on their tests in a subsequent year.
Read moreA to F school grading policy to take effect this fall; cut scores released